Beach Day - BFF's SCS

SoundCloud Song

Today is my 24th birthday (Woo Hoo!) and what better way to celebrate than catching up on all of the new music on SoundCloud that I have missed whilst at Camp Bestival. I am really enjoying this new track from Beach Day, it goes at a slight slower pace than their other tracks which is no bad thing. It leans heavily on the Dum Dum Girls sound and shares the honest storytelling lyrics a la Courtney Barnett and Jenny Lewis' Just One Of The Guys track. As the summer is winding down, it seems a perfect time to just chill out and listen to this relaxed surf pop rock track. Enjoy!

Beans On Toast - Can't Take Another Earthquake YTV

05/08/14 YouTube Video

I have just came back from Camp Bestival and what better choice for a video than to praise two of the artists that performed a great set at the festival. This track from all the way back in 2011 is from Beans On Toast featuring Kate Tempest. It is one of BOTs more child friendly tracks with a catchy chorus even with serious issues included that went down really well on the Sunday afternoon. It was also fun to here how he edited down some of his more adult themed songs for the younger audience but his style of song writing and playing didn't diminish and will always sound good to me. Enjoy!

Honeyblood - Honeyblood JA

July Album

The album I have enjoyed listening to this month has been the self titled début from Honeyblood. It has quite an overall lo fi quality with certain tracks having amped up guitars for a change of pace. It has a hint of some riot grrrl bands but less in your face and more soft and soothing vocals. I really enjoy Killer Bangs in the vocal department because it is slightly more upbeat and bouncy, also Super Rat is another favourite because the power and emotion they put into the lyrics seems really meaningful and passionate. There does seem to be a lot of two piece rock groups popping up at the moment but this is one of my personal favourites.  Enjoy one of their singles Bud below!

Hot Soles - Ready To Burn YTV

29/07/14 YouTube Video

I have just returned from Tramlines festival yesterday and am leaving for Camp Bestival tomorrow so I am currently in the middle of great times. I have chosen this track this week because whilst at Tramlines Hot Soles live show really stood out to me and was a band that I previously have never heard of before. Other stand out performances from the festival were Shy Nature, The Bromheads, Neon Waltz and PINS who were were part of a great build up to the Sat headliners Deap Vally. I'm looking forward to more brilliant live music this weekend down at Lulworth Castle. Enjoy!

Stone Age Brain - Jen Cloher Ft. Courtney Barnett SCS

SoundCloud Song

This is a great live performance of a track Jen Cloher originally did with a man called Tim Rogers. In this version he has been replaced by the ever increasingly popular Courtney Barnett. There are several reasons why I prefer this track over the original: I really think the acoustic guitar sound compliments the vocals and makes the lyrics easier to hear rather than the electric guitar which slightly overpowers them. Also I prefer the girl/girl vocals as opposed to the boy/girl vocals of the original mainly because I think Tims voice is a bit too harsh on the ears for a track that sounds like it should be more mellow. But who knows, maybe I have just fell in love with Courtneys voice too much to prefer another instead. Enjoy!

 

Devin Davis - Giant Spiders YTV

22/07/14 YouTube Video

I have been meaning to talk about and share this song for some time now. I found out about it by chance whilst randomly trawling through the internet music sites and I was immediately hooked. This track is off of an almost decade old album from Devin Davis. After looking in to him a bit further I still don't know a great deal apart from this album being the only one he has released so far, a couple of dated interviews and from his website there is positive warnings that there is new material on the way (but who knows how long that post has been up for). This track is one of a bunch of brilliant tracks that you can listen to on YouTube. Straight off the bat it has clear influences of that 60's sound. I thought particularly a Beach Boys, Monkees-esque vibe with a hint of The Who but that seems almost too boxed in of a category for this song. I like how the drum beat has a rolling effect that gives the track a slight surfer vibe and the vocals are the right mix of hooky chorus line and great meaningful lyrics. Incredible stuff, enjoy!

 

The National Bowl DOTM

Design Of The Month

The design I have chosen is The National Bowl in Milton Keynes. I recently went there to see Pearl Jam perform with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and OFF! as support acts. This was my first visit to the venue and it was a bit of a nightmare getting there with the parking prices being extortionate for a venue of that size that should have at least some on site parking. But once I actually got in to the venue it was a different story. The set up is very much like a main stage at a festival and the crowd was equal in size if not larger. I spent the majority of the show pretty close to the front and the atmosphere was as you can assume, very electric and exciting. Later on in the show I made my way to the outer edge of the field and up onto the sloped verges and I have to say the sound did not lose any quality over the distance. The way the whole place has been designed makes the sound travel so well and still keep its level of quality. The engineers who created this venue really deserves some high praise to make any gig great whether you are in the mosh pit right at the front or enjoying dinner with your children on the outskirts. (Below is a sky view and a couple of snaps of
Pearl Jam) Absolutely amazing!

Birds Eye

Up Close

Afar

Holly Williams NPR Tiny Desk Concert YTV

15/07/14 YouTube Video

It has been a while since I have seen a NPR Tiny Desk that I have enjoyed watching as much as this one which is why it is my choice this week. The lady herself is Holly Williams and her set includes 3 tracks: Drinkin', Railroads and Waiting On June. Before watching this video I only heard Drinkin' but I was really amazed by the new songs that I heard. Her voice is really strong and holds a lot of emotion and passion, especially with tracks like Waiting On June which is about her personal life with her family (as mentioned) like I am sure the other tracks she sings are personal to her also which helps give the songs heart and not be bland standard tracks. She is obviously well known in the Country music genre but more than that, she should be well known for just being a great musician, songwriter and overall performer. Enjoy!

 

Southern - Where I Want To Be SCS

SoundCloud Song

This is the latest from artist Southern which is to be released on the 18th of August. This song really carries on with the same style of music that they have produced so far which is no bad thing. I think when the inevitable album gets released, it will sound like a perfect package of blues, acoustic/rootsy slide guitar and boy-girl vocals which this track will fit nicely into. If you a fan of Jake Bugg in terms of lyrics and the story telling aspect of songs this one is definitely worth a listen. Beautiful song!

We Are Scientists - Make It Easy YTV

08/07/14 YouTube Video

This last weekend was Godiva Festival at Coventry Memorial Park. An annual free music festival that spans three nights and this year is the second year I have attended. I only went on the Saturday this year due to funds and Saturday seemed to have the best days line up. My personal highlight of the day was We Are Scientists who held the penultimate days slot. But other acts that were impressive were Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Little Matador and Young Aviators. We Are Scientists played a lot of the well known songs and also the song below which was new to me but I liked it so that is why it is this weeks YouTube video. The video is as random as you can expect from the band, with the same humor/surrealism that their videos normally have. I have also included some photos that I took during the festival. Enjoy!

We Are Scientists

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

Little Matador

Chrissie Hynde - Stockholm JA

June Album 
New Feature!!

I have decided that once a month I will post a particular album that I have been listening to and am a big fan of. It will always be out on Thursdays and it will replace one of the DOTF spots reducing that down to once a month opposing this feature. Mainly I just wanted a space to share new/old albums that I want more people to listen to/enjoy and I didn't want to just post designs that were scraping the bottom of the barrel for the sake of it, so I thought this would be a good change.

So this past month I have really been diggin' the Chrissie Hynde début solo album Stockholm. To be honest I wasn't too knowledgeable about her time in The Pretenders and the music they produced but that doesn't matter when listening to this album. It happily stands alone in its own right. As a new listener with fresh ears she clearly has a very distinctive sound to her voice and to the songs as a whole. My favourite tracks from the album are Dark Sunglasses (video below) which was one of the released singles, Sweet Nuthin' which has clever lyrics and a catchy chorus, and the album finale Adding The Blue which is a slower acoustic number that shows Chrissie Hynde in a different but still impressive light. Even though I have picked 3 of my favourites, this album easily has 7-8 tracks that would do well as singles which is no bad thing. Enjoy!

Kodaline - All I Want (Glasto 2014) YTV

01/07/14 YouTube Video

Seeing as it was Glastonbury festival this weekend just gone and I was not able to get a ticket, I have been watching live tv coverage literally non stop trying to catch up on all the footage. There were many great performances that stood out to me such as Jack White (who did a nice mixture of old and new songs), Kaiser Chiefs, Haim, Dolly Parton, (slightly surprisingly) Kasabian, The Black Keys and of course Kodaline who kept the crowd singing along despite the bad weather. The video below is one of Kodalines stand out tracks from their set and it took me back to when I saw them at Reading festival and how much of a good live band they are. Enjoy!

Get Inuit - Cutie Pie, I'm Bloated SCS

SoundCloud Song

I have heard quite a few great tracks from SoundCloud this week. A few from bands like Tangerines, Storms and Beach Day but this track from Get Inuit (Cutie Pie, I'm Bored) sounds the most exciting to me. For a just over 2 minute song I think it has everything I could ask for and gets me pumped up for the sunshine that is hopefully going to hang around.. I like the catchy and relate-able (if slightly repetitive) lyrics but I really enjoy the guitar sound they produce and instruments working as a whole.

Len - Steal My Sunshine YTV

24/06/14 YouTube Video

'90s throwback tune, Len - Steal My Sunshine really reminds me of the summer time growing up as a little boy playing in the park (most likely climbing trees or the like). It has hints of Smash Mouth, Uncle Kracker and other bubblegum pop-rock artists. The video for this track is heavily laden with cheese, with the group riding around on mopeds on the coast, wearing tank tops and sports shades but that all adds to that late 90's feel which is all part of my love for this track. Enjoy!

Akiha Ward Cultural Center DOTF

Design Of The Fortnight

I have been meaning to talk about this piece of design for a while now, after reading about it in the latest edition of Wired Magazine. It is named Akiha Ward Cultural Center designed by Chiaki Arai in Japan. From my initial impressions I just thought it was a modern, dynamic piece of architecture with interesting shapes and a lot of exposed concrete which makes for a fresh take on a concert hall. But on further reading, the grooves and multifaceted walls direct the acoustic sound waves evenly rather than absorbing it, creating a better sound for the listener. I think it is a very smart piece of design and must be equally cool to be in the audience listening to the performer alongside actually playing the instrument on the stage in this fantastic venue.

Black Mower - Shitty Parade YTV

17/06/14 YouTube Video

Don Giovanni Records have pulled out a cracker with this one. Keeping it simple with a straight up scuzzy, modern rock track that shows that you don't need to spend a crazy amount of money on a video for it to be great. This vid really shows the band as fun loving dudes who aren't into creating a heightened persona but just making home grown good honest tunes. Enjoy!

SoundCloud Song

J Mascis - Every Morning

This is the first track released from the soon to be J Mascis solo album. I have to say it was less of a heavy sound than what I was expecting, especially after listening to some of the more rockier Dinosaur Jr stuff which I enjoy equally to this track but differently. I love how upbeat and happy the track sounds, helped along by the bouncy acoustic guitar sound. Keep up the good work!

YouTube Video O.T.W. 10/06/14

Peace - Money

This is the latest single released from Peace. It has a different style and sound than their first album and to me it sounds like it is in the same sort of vein as Hard-Fi in that they are talking about current issues and from a slightly working class angle, also the guitar sound to me is not too dissimilar. I also chose this track because I went to see them live at The Assembly in Leamington last night and they put on a really great show. Along with the other new tracks they played that night off of their next album (hopefully out soon), it sounds like it is going to be a great listen.

D.O.T.F. Face Paint Album

Natalie Sharp Artist

This news piece may be a bit old now but I am only just getting around to talking about it. I have seen a few pieces from the artist Natalie Sharp and this face painted piece below is one of my favourites. It is the classic Joy Division album artwork expertly painted on a models face. The expressionless eyes being open add to the creepiness of the piece as a whole. Great piece of design and be sure to check out more of her other face painted album covers.

YouTube Video O.T.W. 03/06/14

Jurassic 5 - The Way We Do It

This weeks post comes from Cornwall seeing as I am currently enjoying the great English sunshine on holiday. The track I have chosen for the track of the week has sampled a great song by The White Stripes (Doorbell) and the group that have rapped over it all have their own distinctive vocal styles and sounds to their voices which makes for a killer track. The lyrics and the sample really work great together. Enjoy.